Electrical adapter

Abstract

An electrical adapter for electrically connecting a control unit of a heating device to an electric energy source and to an electrical signal source. The adapter may include a support, an electrical signal line, a first electrical supply line, a second electrical supply line, and a filter device. The signal line and the supply lines may be embedded in a plastic material of the support. Ends of the signal line may merge into a signal input connection and into a signal output connection. Ends of the supply lines may merge into a first and second electrical supply input connection and into a first and second electrical supply output connection. The filter device may be configured to filter an electric supply current conducted via the supply lines. The filter device may include a first and second electrical filter connection via which the filter device is electrically connected to the supply lines.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical adapter for electrically connecting a control unit of a heating device to an electric energy source and to an electrical signal source, comprising:
 a support composed of an electrically insulating plastic material; 
 at least one electrical signal line for electrical signal transmission, the at least one electrical signal line embedded in the plastic material of the support, the at least one electrical signal line merging into an electrical signal input contact at one end for electrical connection to the electrical signal source and, at another end, merging into a signal output contact for electrical connection to an electronic control system of the control unit; 
 a first electrical supply line and a second electrical supply line for electric energy transmission, the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line embedded in the plastic material of the support, the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line merging into a first electrical supply input connection and a second electrical supply input connection at one end for electrical connection to the electric energy source and, at another end, merging into a first electrical supply output connection and a second electrical supply output connection for electrical connection to the electronic control system; 
 a filter arranged on the support for filtering an electric supply current conducted via the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line; and 
 wherein the filter includes (i) a first electrical filter connection via which the filter is electrically connected to the first electrical supply line and (ii) a second electrical filter connection via which the filter is electrically connected to the second electrical supply line. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured as a low-pass and has at least one electrical capacitance as an electric/electronic element providing the filtration. 
     
     
       3. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical filter connection and the second electrical filter connection are each connected to the respective electrical supply line via at least one of a soldered connection and a welded connection. 
     
     
       4. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is arranged on the support adjacently to the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line. 
     
     
       5. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first electrical filter connection and the second electrical filter connection project from a filter housing of the filter; 
 at least one electrical/electronic element is arranged in the filter housing; 
 the first electrical filter connection and the second electrical filter connection, with a connection end facing away from the filter housing, are electrically connected to the respective electrical supply line; and 
 an extension length of at least one of the first electrical filter connection and the second electrical filter connection between the respective electrical supply line and the filter housing is 5 mm or less. 
 
     
     
       6. The electrical adapter according to  claim 5 , wherein a distance between the filter housing and a closer of the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line is 5 mm or less. 
     
     
       7. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one signal line, the first electrical supply line, and the second electrical supply line includes an electric current rail composed of a metal. 
     
     
       8. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the support part is formed in one, singular part. 
     
     
       9. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is at least partly overmoulded by the plastic material of the support. 
     
     
       10. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrical signal input contact is disposed opposite the first electrical supply input connection and the second electrical supply input connection along a main direction; and 
 the signal output contact, the first electrical supply output connection, and the second electrical supply output connection, along a sub-direction extending perpendicularly to the main direction, are arranged laterally offset relative to the electrical signal input contact, the first electrical supply input connection, and the second electrical supply input connection and, along the main direction, are arranged next to one another. 
 
     
     
       11. A control unit for a heating device of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 an electronic housing surrounding a housing interior; 
 an electrical adapter according to  claim 1 ; 
 wherein the support of the adapter forms a part of the electronic housing; and 
 wherein the electronic control system is arranged in the housing interior and is electrically connected to the first electrical supply output connection, the second electrical supply output connection, and the signal output contact. 
 
     
     
       12. The control unit according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one further housing part that, together with the support, defines the electronic housing. 
     
     
       13. The control unit according to  claim 12 , wherein the filter is detachably fastened to the further housing part. 
     
     
       14. The control unit according to  claim 12 , wherein the filter is detachably fastened to the further housing part via a screw connection. 
     
     
       15. The control unit according to  claim 12 , wherein the filter is detachably fastened to the further housing part via a clip connection. 
     
     
       16. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical filter connection and the second electrical filter connection are each connected to the respective electrical supply line via a resistance welded connection. 
     
     
       17. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is arranged on the support adjacently to the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line at a distance of 5 mm or less. 
     
     
       18. The electrical adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support part is formed in two parts; 
 the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line are arranged on a first support part of the support; and 
 the at least one signal line is arranged on a second support part of the support. 
 
     
     
       19. The electrical adapter according to  claim 18 , wherein the filter is at least partly overmoulded by the plastic material of the first support part. 
     
     
       20. An electrical adapter for a heating device, comprising:
 a support composed of an electrically insulating plastic material; 
 an electrical signal input contact for electrical connection to an electrical signal source; 
 a signal output contact for electrical connection to an electronic control system of a heating device control unit; 
 at least one electrical signal line embedded in the plastic material of the support, a first end of the at least one electrical signal line merging into the electrical signal input contact, a second end of the at least one electrical signal line merging into the signal output contact; 
 a first electrical supply input connection and a second electrical supply input connection for electrical connection to an electric energy source; 
 a first electrical supply output connection and a second electrical supply output connection for electrical connection to the electronic control system; 
 a first electrical supply line embedded in the plastic material of the support, a first end of the first electrical supply line merging into the first electrical supply input connection, a second end of the first electrical supply line merging into the first electrical supply output connection; 
 a second electrical supply line embedded in the plastic material of the support, a first end of the second electrical supply line merging into the second electrical supply input connection, a second end of the second electrical supply line merging into the second electrical supply output connection; 
 a filter for filtering an electric supply current conducted via the first electrical supply line and the second electrical supply line; and 
 wherein the filter is arranged on the support and includes (i) a first electrical filter connection electrically connected to the first electrical supply line and (ii) a second electrical filter connection electrically connected to the second electrical supply line.